Binder with individually operable binder rings



March 31, 1959 BROQK 2,879,775

BINDER WITH INDIVIDUALLY OPERABLE BINDER RINGS Filed Aug. 18, 1958 INVENTORQ flew/we fi 5mm United States Patent BINDER WITH INDIVIDUALLY OPERABLE BINDER RINGS Arthur F. Brook, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., assignor to Wire-0- 'gorporation, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., a corporation of New ork Application August 18, 1958, Serial No. 755,791

2 Claims. (Cl. 129-24) The invention herein disclosed relates to ring binders and the objects of the invention are to provide a light weight, inexpensive form of construction in which the rings may be operated individually, any one ring independently of the others.

These and other desirable objects have been attained through a novel combination and relation of parts as exemplified in the accompanying drawing and as described and claimed in the following specification.

The drawing referred to is illustrative of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention but structure may be modified and changed all within the true intent and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. l in the drawing is a plan view of one of the binders mounted in a cover, the latter shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged and broken cross sectional view on substantially the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1 with the ring forming prongs in closed relation.

Fig. 3 is a similar view on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with broken lines indicating the ring forming prongs shifted from closed to open position.

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional plan view on substantially the plane of line 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an underneath or inside view showing the base portions of the hook members forming a toggle held between the flanges of the shield or spring cover plate.

Fig. 6 is an inside view of the cover plate with prongs removed.

Fig. 7 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the cover plate on substantially the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 the binder metal is of extremely simple construction, made up of just a spring cover plate 10 and companion ring forming prongs 11, 12 held to the cover or supporting structure 13 by rivets 14. The shield or cover plate is a strip of light thin sheet metal rolled into inverted channel cross section having an arched top Wall 15 and convergently inclined dependent side flanges 16.

A special feature of this light sheet metal member is that where the rings are to be located the top is pierced at 17 by dies which sever the metal at the ends and sides of the openings toward the center of the strip but leave the metal attached at the outer edges of the openings to form integral tabs 18 which are struck down flat against the inner faces of the flanges to form reinforcing pads as particularly shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7.

Another special feature of the spring plate is that it has indentations in the top wall between the side openings 17 forming dependent integral projections 19 serving as stops to limit the opening movement of the ring forming prongs.

The prong members 11 and 12 have angled base plates 20, 21 meeting on a rocking hinge joint 22 to operate 2,879,775 Patented Mar. 31, 1959 as spring toggles when seated between the flanges of the cover plate with the prongs projecting up through the openings in the top of the plate.

The toggle plate bases of the prongs hold them yieldingly under tension of the spring plate in either the open or closed ring position and the indented projections in the top of the plate are engaged by the inner, hinge ends of the toggle plates to limit the open ring position of the prongs, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 3.

The pads struck down from the roof of the inverted channel plate against the inner faces of the side flanges provide reinforcements, strengthening and stiffening the flanges and enabling the relatively thin sheet metal to exert a strong compressive force on the toggle plates. This construction enables a thin, light weight, inexpensive spring strip to be used for the cover plate, keeping cost and weight of the binder metal down to a minimum.

The ring forming members can be made up of rela' tively light sheet metal and as many of these used as considered necessary or desirable for any particular binder.

In the illustration only three binder rings are employed but this number may be increased or reduced according to requirements since each ring combination is a separate independently operable unit. Aside from lower cost, simplicity and light Weight this new construction has many advantages in the ability to open or close any one or more selected rings without disturbing or changing other rings. These single rings also are easier to release and close than the rings of conventional binders which are connected in groups and which require heavier spring pressure.

What is claimed is:

l. A ring binder with individually operable rings comprising an inverted channel spring cover strip and companion ring forming members projecting upwardly therefrom, said inverted channel strip having an arched top and dependent inwardly inclined side flanges, portions of said top at opposite sides of the center being struck downward and folded against the inner faces of the said side flanges, providing openings in the top in line with double thickness reinforcing pads on the inner faces of the flanges and said ring forming members having toggle plates bearing against said reinforced side flanges and ring forming hooks projecting from the outer edges of said toggle plates up through said openings.

2. A ring binder with individually operable rings comprising an inverted channel spring cover strip and companion ring forming members projecting upwardly therefrom, said inverted channel strip having an arched top and dependent inwardly inclined side flanges, portions of said top at opposite sides of the center being struck downward and folded against the inner faces of said side flanges, providing openings in the top in line with double thickness reinforcing pads on the inner faces of the flanges and said ring forming members having toggle plates hearing against said reinforced side flanges and ring forming hooks projecting from the outer edges of said toggle plates up through said openings and integral projections struck downwardly from the central portion of said arched top forming stops in line with and limiting the ring opening movement of said toggle plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,509,815 Dawson Sept. 23, 1924 2,314,426 Shade Mar. 23, 1943 2,512,415 Buenger et al. June 20, 1950 

